R3 Discovery occupies a maze of cosy nooks at Funworks, a co-working center in World City, CBD. Here children can explore, learn, and discover the joy of real books, in a world where screens provide a constant distraction.

“I don’t think parents are aware how much their children’s attention is on their tablets and phones,” says R3 founder Perlita Pengson. “It’s good that technology is affecting the life of our kids, but there are still some old traditions we should keep up, and one of them is reading books.”

Pengson is a former preschool teacher, but the motivation for setting up R3 Discovery came from her experience of bringing up her own children.

“As a mother, I don’t like the idea of my kids spending all their time on gadgets. They affect children’s eyes.”

What about e-books, I ask her?

“E-books are OK, I’m not against them, but they don’t have the same feeling as a physical book, of using your fingers to turn the pages. And it’s too easy to switch to other things.”

(l-r: Perlita Pengson, Miyee Woon)

Co-founder Miyee Woon also talks about the joy of sharing books with her own daughter.

“She will tell me about the story she is reading, and from that topic we will dream far into the future. It gives us quality time together.”

The children who attend R3 Discovery are aged from 5 to 12, a mix of locals and international kids, although the books they read are all in English. They come twice a week after school, for a 90 minute session, and are divided into beginners, independent, and advanced readers.

“Each session has a lesson plan,” Pengson explains. “We begin with a discussion. I might ask them, have you read anything interesting this week? Then we choose a book to read. At the end there’s a short activity based on the book.”

Parents meanwhile can go for a coffee or shopping World City, sit and chat, or even have a read themselves. Feedback from kids and parents has been positive.

“We’ve had letters from parents who have finished the program or have moved abroad, saying how much they got from it. And some parents want their kids to continue after they’ve completed the program.”

As well as the reading program, R3 Discovery has run a Writing Workshop and a Book Creation Workshop, and are developing new ways to share their love of reading with kids. But what do they like to read most themselves?

“Fairy tales!” Pengson says enthusiastically. “You’re never too old…”

Photos: Courtesy of R3 Discovery, Andrew Killeen

For our column, Ask an Educator, we turn to educators, whether teachers, tutors, or principals, to answer frequently asked questions from parents. To send in your question, email jessicasuotmaa@beijing-kids.com.

This week, our question is:

“How can my child be successful in school? How can I assist my child in reaching success?”

Answering for us is Perlita Pengson, Reading Teacher at R3 Discovery, previous preschool teacher at Ivy Education Group. Pengson is foremost a mother who has volunteered at Fang Cao Di Primary School, running the PTA Reading Program for elementary students. She is also a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

I am sure that there are thousands of ways that your child can be successful in school. As a teacher and mother, I also search for ways to ensure that my kids are successful in school. I have tried different methods, but many have not worked out for me and my kids. I’ve listed a select few that worked for us and might work for you and your family as well.

Schedule

At home, we have created a learning environment. My kids and I came up with their schedule from the time they get home from school until the time they have to sleep. I’ve learned that it is vital to include your children when creating rules or schedule for them for it means you are showing them the respect that they deserve.

Model Reading

I myself love to read, so I keep all types of reading materials at home. I encourage my kids to read books for at least 15 to 20 minutes per day. The best part is, I get to spend quality time with them during our reading time. Most kids get bored easily when they read a book. I don’t force my kids to read if they are not in the mood. I just let them watch me reading books, magazines, cook books, etc. Be a MODEL to them! I take them to bookstores and libraries to read books.

Quality Time

I encourage my children to work independently and be more responsible, but I always make myself available during such learning times.

As a full time working mom, I make sure that my kids are always my priority. Any free time I have, I spend it with my family. Like most parents, I also made a lot of sacrifices in regards to the needs of my children. More quality time with my children allows me to find out what their special interests are, from sports to music to art. I then support them in developing and enriching their special abilities.

School Presence

I connect with my children’s school by making quick phone calls to their homeroom teacher, even with my busy schedule. Not to check if my children are behaving but to ask if she or he needs help. I volunteer to visit their class and read books to the class, or just help the teacher decorate the room for a special occasion. I do it because as an educator, I appreciate it when parents come forward and assure me that they are supporting their kids in any way they can. I also appreciate parents who make time to volunteer in any activities we have in class or school.

When your children see that you are connected to their school and give your spare time to volunteer, it will encourage them to be more diligent in their studies and behave better in class. Your presence in the everyday lives of your children is what helps them to be a successful in everything they do.

Photo: courtesy of Perlita Pengson